Pirates' Gerrit Cole scratched from rehab start

Right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole has been scratched from his rehab start with Pittsburgh Pirates Triple-A affiliate Indianapolis. General manager Neil

Right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole has been scratched from his rehab start with Pittsburgh Pirates Triple-A affiliate Indianapolis.

General manager Neil Huntington provided no explanation for the move. From MLB.com:

In a text message shared with reporters, Buccos general manager Neal Huntington wrote, "After Gerrit's last outing and last bullpen, we decided another bullpen to refine some things was the best course of action."​

Cole was placed on the 15-day disabled list earlier this month with tightness in his right lat. He threw 81 pitches in a rehab start on Monday.

Cole, 23, has posted a 3.78 ERA with a 7-4 record over 14 starts with Pittsburgh this season. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft.

The Pirates opened Saturday at 58-51, holding a 1/2 game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Wild Card race and 2 1/2 games back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL central.

More: Breaking down top candidates to be dealt by MLB's waiver deadline​

- Chris Johnson